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Rescuers cut car roof to rescue trapped driver

SAN DIEGO – A woman had to be extricated by firefighters after she smashed her car into a palm tree in Mission Bay early Monday morning.

The crash occurred before 1:30 a.m. on Mission Bay Drive north of Clairemont Drive. San Diego police said the driver and sole occupant of the car, a Toyota Prius, was speeding on Mission Bay Drive when she lost control going around a curve, went onto some grass and crashed head-on into a palm tree.

The impact was so strong the car struck the tree and bounced back into the road.

It took San Diego Fire-Rescue crews more than 30 minutes to cut the woman out of the car. Firefighters had to cut off the roof using the Jaws of Life to reach her. She had broken bones in both her legs.

The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital and was expected to survive.